Received my card today, so I waited 10-11 days. Not too bad. Only bummer is that you apparently have to go to each cultural institution to receive your membership. Looks like I'll be making a trip to the Brooklyn Museum and BBG today!

Whynot, so does the membership benefits start at the time to go to the institution with your new card and sign up, or do the memberships expire at the end of 2015 regardless of when you get the card? (I'm wondering if your paperwork says?)

That is great to know! The Brooklyn Museum and BBG were closed today, so I'll officially begin my membership sign-ups tomorrow. Though I may put it off until mid-July so that I'll have that I'll have mid-summer covered for 2016 as well.

Recently received my WCS institution (Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Aquarium) memberships. I also applied for the Brooklyn Museum membership, only to be told that the processing time takes 2-3 weeks! Well, I guess beggars can't be choosers, but if they think they are getting full entry payment from me in the meanwhile (still paying $0.50!), they are mistaken

In NYC, lots of people are denied the ability to open a bank account or are held by police until their identity can be verified, because they lack an identification card.

Earlier this month I went to Chase for a transaction. When I tried to show the NYC ID as proof of identification, I was told Chase wouldn't accept it. I was able to fulfill Chase's ID requirement in other ways, but that was a disappointment.

In NYC, lots of people are denied the ability to open a bank account or are held by police until their identity can be verified, because they lack an identification card.

Earlier this month I went to Chase for a transaction. When I tried to show the NYC ID as proof of identification, I was told Chase wouldn't accept it. I was able to fulfill Chase's ID requirement in other ways, but that was a disappointment.

I'm finding that chain establishments (such as Dallas BBQ) aren't even accepting the card as proof of age for drinks. I've had no such problems with supermarkets, though.

"The IDNYC card does not authorize cardholders to drive or provide proof of identity to obtain a driver's license. The card also does not authorize cardholders to purchase alcohol or tobacco products, receive public assistance benefits, or travel on an airplane. The IDNYC does not confer immigration status or provide work authorization."

Makes sense, though increased alcohol consumption means increased tax revenues (sure, excessive drinking can also mean more alcohol -related incidents that the city could be on the hook for). I'm shocked that more establishments aren't fighting to have the cards available for that purpose as it would likely mean more business for them. Clearly not all establishments (or at least a certain supermarket on Washington Avenue that will go unnamed ) haven't gotten the message.

Because we previously had a Brooklyn Museum membership, they wouldn't let us get a free one. It had to expire in 2011 or 2012. Many, many strings attached.

What silliness from the Museum. If I was denied an IDNYC membership for that reason, I certainly would be less likely to pay for another membership in the future and would continue to pay my $0.50 for entry into the museum

In some of these instances, the individual does not want to provide NYPD identification because they have an outstanding warrant. ....the individual concludes they have nothing to lose, and violence results. NYC ID does not help here, but the "Begin Again" events may have some impact on the lease dangerous of this population.

In other instances, the individuals are not complying with police because they know that (as a result of not having ID) they will be held by police until their identity can be verified. As a result, they conclude that they have nothing to lose, and violence results. NYC ID could eliminate many such instances.

Just applied for membership to the BBG. While you don't get your permanent, one-year membership card (and other benefits, such as 2 guest passes, etc.) immediately, they do give you a temporary membership card on the spot.

Next up? Probably BAM Cinema. Although I'd stop by any place that I happen to find myself close to.

I already have a membership to BBG so I can't use ID NYC for a free one year membership, even if my current membership were to lapse.

Today I made the long trek to the Bronx to sign up at the Bronx Zoo and at the NYBG. The Bronx Zoo have me a membership card on the spot while NYBG gave me a temporary one. NOW I can finally go to the Prospect Park Zoo down the block for free.

I'm waiting for the Brooklyn Museum card to come in the mail.

I'll get around to going to the Manhattan cultural institutions one day.

I already have separate BPL and NYPL cards so I don't need to use ID NYC as a library card.

Hmmm. sounds like some of what isn't covered by ID NYC (being able to open a bank account, etc.) is exactly what you CAN use a non-driver ID for. I think I'll just renew my non-driver ID... it's much more useful on a practical level.

You're right about museum attendants "shaming" people who don't automatically want to pay $20 to gain admission, but when I was much younger, I developed a thick skin and didn't care. Then I ended up working for the Brooklyn Museum (and later, part time at BBG) and happily enjoyed "reciprocal priviliges" - being an employee at one local cultural institution gets you free admission to lots of others. I'd hung onto the old work IDs for years after having moved on to other jobs, so until they started looking harder at the expiration dates (and then reformatting the logo for BBG) , I put the IDs to good use. It was particularly useful when trying to entertain my son when he was young enough to get into places free - we could spend a day at the Botanic Garden (he loved the giant koi, snapping turtles and ducks) and occasionally I could coax him into the Brooklyn Museum...

If you have enough "points" to get a NYS non-driver ID, that is definately the way to go.

The advantage of the NYC ID is that is provides some ID to folks who otherwise would have none.

...or not enough.

A few years ago when my mother misplaced her NYS ID, I was tearing my hair out trying to figure out how to get her a replacement. She was a U.S. citizen, but collecting enough documentation to meet the minimum number of points was a challenge.

I wonder how many of the 700,000 already had drivers licenses or state ID but just got the card to get into the museums and other places free. I'm sure it wasn't just immigrants or undocumented folks applying for the card.